2014 Third National Best Farmer receives reward

Mr Eric Opoku, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister on Wednesday on behalf of the Government presented a Pick-Up Vehicle to Mr Yaw Gyan, the 2014 National Third Best Farmer at a brief ceremony at the Forecourt of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC).

The vehicle with Registration Number GM 862 – 14, donated by Stanbic, was part of a number of items donated by individuals and corporate bodies to the Government to sponsor the 2014 and the 30th National Farmers’ Day Award ceremony, held at Sefwi-Wiawso in the Western Region in early December.

Mr Opoku recalled the significance of last year’s Farmers’ Day in the Brong-Ahafo Region, explaining that,, apart from Mr Gyan winning the third position, Mr George Amankwa Asamoah, also from the Region was adjudged the Over-All Best Farmer among the lot.

The Regional Minister described the record made by the two sons of the region (Messrs Asamoah and Gyan) as “unprecedented” in the annals of the history of the institution of Farmers’ Day in the country.

Mr Opoku added that, the record also had deepened the fact that Brong-Ahafo is the food basket of the nation, as 30 per cent of the total food needs of the country come from the region.

He congratulated Mr Gyan for the feat and urged him to strive harder to win more laurels as a farmer, and also use the venture to contribute to the socio-economic development of the nation.

Speaking at the function Mr Gyan, 55, accompanied by his wife Madam Amma Gyan, expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama, the RCC, and the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) for helping in one way or the order for him “to achieve the fruits of his labour at last.”

“There is dignity in labour, no matter in what accepted form, one would labour for one’s daily bread,” he said.

He noted the good efforts Government was doing to sustain agriculture, which is the bane of the economy and passionately appealed to the President to do more to encourage farming, especially the youth to enter or involve in the industry.

Mr Gyan said presently he has about 400-acres of farm, cultivating cash and food crops, adding that, his target was to expand the farm to one thousand acres, barring any impediment.

He was grateful to his wife for her assistance and great encouragement in all forms and prayed that God continues to give him the needed strength to serve the nation through farming.

Earlier, Doctor Cyril Quist, the Regional Director of MOFA, briefly explained the mode of selecting farmers for the national award and said initially, like done in all the regions, four potential farmers were picked by the Regional Selecting Committee but further pruning kept Messrs Asamoah and Gyan to represent the region for the eventual national Award Winning race.